Patriots Day Weekend Starts Reenactment Season, April 22-23

Past and Present US Military People Admitted Free

Tue, Apr 4th 2017 02:00 pm

Reenactors and visitors mingle in front of the French Castle at Old Fort Niagara on Patriots Day Weekend. (photo C. Clark)

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(April 4, 2017) Youngstown, N.Y. - Patriots Day Weekend launches Old Fort
Niagara's reenactment season with a salute to veterans and patriotism on April
22 and 23. The weekend's family-friendly, educational and
interactive activities will
enlighten visitors about the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began April
19, 1775, and started the American Revolution. The programs are
suitable for all ages and everything is included with regular admission to the
fort.

Patriots Day Weekend will also honor all U.S.
military service people, who will be admitted free with proper ID. A ceremony
at 2 p.m. Saturday will award special plaques to:

·Stanley Hill Sagar, Sergeant, US Army,
European Theatre, World War II (posthumously), also member of Brant's
Volunteers reenactment unit

Volunteer reenactors from Hoisington's New York
Rangers sponsor this annual event with the help of Brant's Volunteers, 64th
Regiment of Foot, and Fort McIntosh Garrison, which are also volunteer
reenactment units. They will portray Colonial Rebels, Colonial Loyalist and
British Redcoats and present musket-firing and clothing demonstrations, 18th
century military drills and be available to meet with visitors and answer
questions. Visitors will also be able to "enlist" as a rebel or loyalist
and participate in mock battles using wooden muskets.

The daily schedule
follows:

10 a.m. Assemble - Reenactors will
gather on the parade grounds

11 a.m. Recruiting Demonstration - Children
and adults can "enlist" as rebels or loyalists

12 p.m. Storytelling
about the Battles of Lexington and Concord that started the American Revolution

1 p.m. Clothing Demonstration

2 p.m. Saturday: Patriots Day Ceremony; and Musket
Firing

2 p.m. Sunday: Patriots Day Honors; and Musket
Firing

Additionally,
guided tours of Old Fort Niagara will be available both days.

The cost to attend
these events is regular admission to the fort ($12/adult, $8/child ages 6-12,
free/children 5 and under) and is free to members of Old Fort Niagara. Veterans
and active military service people will be admitted free with proper ID.

Old Fort Niagara's next reenactment
will be Soldiers through the Ages, May 27 and 28, which will present a
military timeline of soldiers at the fort over three centuries.

Hours of Operation

The Fort is open year round with the exception of New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Jan - June 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

July - Aug - 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

Sept - Dec - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Please note: Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing time.

Support the Fort

Old Fort Niagara is operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association, an independent, not-for-profit organization established in 1927. We do not rely on tax dollars. Instead, the Fort is funded through a combination of admission fees, museum shop sales, and charitable contributions.

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Visit the Fort

If
you visit during one of our special events, you'll meet reenactors who
faithfully recreate the lives of past Fort garrisons and depict the
struggles that led to the birth of the United States and Canada.
If you visit during the off season, you'll enjoy self-guided or audio
tours and hourly musket demonstrations in addition to the many exhibits
and period rooms throughout the Fort. Why not make plans to visit the
Fort today? You'll experience a unique blend of authenticity and drama
that brings history alive.